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Rook: Knight of the Double Blade. A Makai Knight mini-series
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03-31-2017, 09:30 PM
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scikaiju
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
Rook: Knight of the Double Blade
OP – CFO$ - Catch Your Breath
The streets were alive as various firetrucks, squad cars and ambulances came to a stop at a hotel that had been set on fire. People behind the safety lines just stared in wonder at the blaze that started to consume the upper floors of the building. Various police officers were trying hard to keep the herd of people back while at the same time usher those evacuating the hotel either past the line or toward the awaiting ambulance for those that needed them. A few words were picked up here and there among the crowd. Some about an arsonist setting the blaze some swearing they saw some guy fighting what looked like a monster while the fire was raging on the upper floors. A few officers took note of the potential arsonist just in case, but completely ignored the man versus creature part completely, putting it to down to hysteria from the fire. Although a couple did privately wonder what kind of flames were up there to make people think it was some sort of monster.
On one of the trucks a man jumped out the door and started giving orders almost faster than his feet hit the ground. “Get those hoses out! Ryder get some men ready to hit inside as soon as possible. You,” he pointed at what looked like the person in charge of this particular establishment, “is everybody out?”
“I.. I..,” he was borderline panicking. If it was anything but this type of situation he would have gave the guy more of a chance to calm down. Hell he was probably just the night manager who just had to deal with the occasional drunk or rowdy guest. But right now seconds counted.
“Is anybody still on the upper floors?”, he demanded with a little more authority.
That seemed to at least snap him out his personal fright zone. “I.. I.. don't know. I think so. The fire alarms are more or less automatic. We started pounding on doors on the lower levels as soon as they went off. We couldn't even reach the upper floors because of everybody rushing down the stairs.”
“Thank you,” he said, and meant it. Any information they could get right now was pretty much vital. “Ryder, get ready to get those men in now! We might still have people up there.”
“On it!”, he replied. “Davidson, Stevens, Anderson, Brennen. Scott!” Before he could say anything else an explosion from the upper floor made everyone around the building duck. Those beyond the line started to run away as bits of glass and debris rained down on them. While a few of the officers were silently glad the crowd started to disburse they knew those running away in a panic would cause them a bigger mess.
For the chief the lessening crowd was the least of his worries at the moment. “Ryder get those men up there now! Everybody get those hoses up there as well. All cranes I want water on full force!” Despite not being done barking out orders be stopped when he noticed one of his men staring out into space. Even on a light day this would be a bad thing but this man was one of the more dependable ones under him. Even making sure others were concentrating on their tasks and nothing else. “Rhodes!”
His man what startled as he turned back turned toward him. “Sorry! But there was a secondary explosion.”
“Where?”, he demanded looking at the inferno above them and in the general area just in case. “I'm not seeing anything different.”
“It was in the air,” Rhodes told him as he pointed at a particularly empty patch of night time sky.. “A smaller explosion after the bigger from from the building. I've never seen anything like that before.”
Of all the time to start cracking the Chief thought as he stared at him man. He'd worry about it later there was a major fire going on right above them. They had to take care of this now before it started spreading to the other buildings. “It was probably a gas bubble or something. But right now I need you here and not up there, got it?” His man nodded that he understood. But he glanced back just briefly, not completely convinced of the Chief's theory.
Hell he was probably imagining it in the excitement.
If one was able to rewind that particular scenario, right before the explosion and look at it from a higher angle, one would have saw something that would have surprised them completely. Crashing through a window flew out the creature some of the patrons of the hotel saw in their flight to safety just moment earlier. It's dark skin almost making it blend in to those on the ground who happened to look up. To some it's demonic appearance would make it look at home in the flames. But this was no demon, to a select few this was a thing known as a Horror. And in some situations that demon label would be close enough.
As it's black leathery wings flapped to keep it in the air it turned it's horned head back toward the building. Seeing the top floor explode it tried to calculate if it was at a safe enough distance from the flames. Seeing the fire spew almost upwards form the explosion it thought it was safe. Then a red shape flew out of the flames as the fire ball reached it's peak. It cried out in shock as the form came at him. Staring into the sharp blue eyes of the wolf style helmet it could do nothing. A yell came from the object as it swung one end of a double bladed sword through the Horror as it kept going.
A relatively small explosion compared to the one from the building happen where the Horror used to be as Rook landed on top of a nearby building. With a small upward nod of his head the armor around flew up and back into the circular portal that appeared above him which vanished almost as soon as it appeared. Carter staggered a bit as he started coughing up what felt like a lung. On his chest the Gothic looking face pin spoke up, “Carter are you all right?”
“I'm fine,” he said through the fit. Once he stopped he continued, “I inhaled a little too much smoke in there.”
“You should have summoned the armor sooner,” Xypher told him. “The armor could have screened out most of it.”
:No,” he said as he walked over toward the edge and looked down at the crowd below. “I think people saw me fight the Horror. I don't think the Watchdogs would have been all of that understanding if they saw me in armor.”
“You got a point there,” the pin conceded to his way of thinking. Having been the companion of a couple of Rook title bearers he understood the need to keep what they did secret. And these particular Watchdogs were particularly strict about keeping what they did a secret. Most Watchdogs were as far as Xypher knew. After a bit he had to ask the Rook he was currently bonded to, “Why are we still hanging around here then?”
“Was it possible some of the Horror 's blood hit the crowd down there?”. He ended up answering.
“Doubtful,” Xypher answered after thinking it over. “We were pretty high up when you defeated the Horror. I know their blood can spread after they're defeated but I'm certain there's a low chance of it reaching the crowd below before evaporating.”
Carter grunted, “But there's still a chance.”
“Yes,” Xypher sighed, realized he left that particular door open just a bit, “I suppose there is. Am I correct in assuming you want to head down there and make sure?” Carter turned around and unconnected the staff while he headed for the fire escape. “I'm taking that for a yes just so you know.”
Taking longer than he wanted Carter hit the street level and started intermingling with the crowd. Walking slowly as he made his way through, just to give the Madou pin enough time to see if any of the souls were unlucky enough to potentially get hit with the any of the Horror's blood. Because if they did, then he had one job to do in that situation. And being in a crowd was going to make it that much harder to accomplish. Getting close to the area where he estimated the Horror was sealed above he stopped and looked around. People were started to spread out a bit, giving him a little more room to maneuver, on the off chance he had to make a quick get away if somebody was splashed with Horror blood. If they were still around that was. Eyeing the crowd he looked around, hoping no one here was affected. “Carter,” the pin spoke up, just loud enough that he could hear him. “I'm sensing something to your left.”
Turning his head in that direction he saw a lone firefighter taking a moment to himself. So far he was by himself. From where Carter was he had a clear shot at the man if the need arose. “Are you sure it's him?”
“I'm getting the sensation from where he's at,” Xypher replied, “”I'm almost positive.”
“That man's life is potentially on the line,” Carter hissed. “Almost is not going to work in this situation.”
The firefighter taking the break took off his helmet to wipe his brow. Putting it down on a side rail on one of the trucks he walked over a few yards to a tub filled with water and dunked his head. Pulling it back out he wiped the water from his eye. That did nothing to cool him off but it refreshed him enough for the moment. He looked up at the blaze above them, other said that they were getting it under control. It still looked the same to him. Or maybe he had been doing the firefighter gig for too long and was just getting tired. Maybe it was time to take that desk job they keep offering him. Thoughts for later he was still on this particular job. Turning around he stopped, totally surprised by what he saw. He looked around at the rest of them standing there, “Who's the wise ass that took my helmet?”
Walking into an alley before anyone could point him out Carter walked down it and made a couple of turns before he was sure enough nobody was following him. Looking at the fire fighter's helmet in his hand he asked, “Are you sure this was where that reading was coming from?”
“Positive?”, Xypher told him. “That sensation stayed the same as that man moved away from us. The Horror's blood hit the helmet in your hand. That guy is not going to know just exactly how lucky he was.” Carter grunted in agreement. Despite being part of his job Carter had yet to come face to face with a human who had been contaminated with Horror Blood, and was not eager to cut that poor person down if they were as Makai Law dictated. The Rook before him held a similar sentiment, and was told that other Knights felt the same way.
“We'll take this to the Watchdogs and let them deal with it.” Carter looked back to the general direction to that hotel. Before he found the Horror he had found something else. Walking the hallways of the upper floor because this particular Horror wasn't leaving thee building his attention was drown to a rather large spot on a wall. A spot made from Horror blood, pulsating just slightly but for whomever came down the hall to see. “I'll report what we found while we're there. Whomever is leaving the blood is either getting bolder or getting sloppier.”
***
Elsewhere in the city Jules walked down a particular street hoping it was the right one. The one real problem with hunting Horrors was that you really didn't have a defined patrol route most of the time., particularly in a city this big. Makai Priests had it a bit easier then the Knights of their order as there were generally more Priests in any given location. Carter and most other Knights she knew pretty much had a particular section of the city assigned to them, or directed to one temporarily if orders from the Watchdogs came down, and just walked that section until they found their target and eliminating and gates as the find them.. Her and her fellow priest where able to section out things a little bit more to give themselves smaller location to search. But small was relative when you were just a single person.
A store front catching her eyes she lowered her pace a bit. It definitely looked familiar. But how many times had she passed this place and not given it a second look. But she kept her eyes a little more open as she continued down the sidewalk. Then she spotted a few more things that looked familiar and stopped to look down a particular alley, She was pretty sure that was the same clock from the other day. Entering the alley she reached into a pocket and pulled out a small round dish like object. In her left hand. In her right she caused the bristles of her brush to glow slightly as she waved it over the dish. A series of rings appeared as she tried to keep an eye on them as well as her surroundings. Realizing that she was entering the same area that she fought an Horror the previous night she stopped. That faint blip that at the time they thought was indicating a Horror was still there, and it was still coming from the location as that dumpster.
“Now let's see if that particular hunch of his was right,” she muttered to herself, pocketing the dish. Madou Brush still in hand she walked over and examined the dumpster as best she could. Lifting the lid still didn't reveal anything out of the ordinary right away, but she kept looking for a few more minutes. Although the previous contents had already been picked up, “At least I don't have to go dumpster diving tonight.” Continuing her search on the outside she briefly wondered if she should have brought somebody along to help her move this thing out of the way. Which more than likely would have meant Carter. Not that she needed a man to do the heavy lifting but because this was still on a need to know basis and as far as she knew only herself, Carter, his friend, Morgan, Vincent and the Watchdogs knew about the object of her search.
And it would have been nice to hang out with Carter, if only for a little bit. Even if it was work related.
Her musing stopped when she thought she saw something on the brick wall behind the dumpster. Almost obscured by it. With a small wave of her hand over them them the bristles of her brush glowed a little brighter, giving her enough light to see the small, slightly pulsating patch of Horror blood. “No wonder we couldn't find the source the other night,” she said to herself. Standing up and backing up slightly she did some quick hand motion and fired a small ball of flame at the spot, like Vincent had instructed her to. While the wall was a bit scorched the magical flame quickly eliminated the patch of blood.
“Yer out a luck.” She spun around Brush at the ready. Only to be greeted by some vagrant walk toward a pile of trash in a corner. “Trash man already got da goods. Should have dropped by yesterday.” Trying not to startle the newcomer she pulled the dish back out and reactivated the search spell. This poor soul wasn't giving off a ready so she relaxed a little bit.
“I'll try and keep that in mind,” Jules told him. “I'm probably trespassing in your space so I'll just leave you in peace.”
“Trust me little missy yer welcome anytime,” he wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. And it was pretty obvious where his mind was with that particular comment.
Faking a smile as she backed away she told him, “I'll keep that in mind.” Then she walked a little faster to get out of that alley.
“I think yer friends are in the other direction if yer heading right.”
“What friends?”, she asked, probably more curious than she should be at the moment.
“Couple o guys with fancy paint brushes like da one you got there.” He gestured in a vague direction that wold have taken her to the left if she choose to take it. “Getting a tad fancy with the street artwork.”
She glanced back at her brush with a slight smirk, “In a way you could say that.”
“Too bad,' he mumbled as he got settle onto the pile,”kinda liked how creative you kids could get with those paint cans. Pity the city keeps washing 'em off. Must have some fun using that brush then.”
“Something like that,” Jules told him. “And thanks, I'll see if I can catch up with them.” He mumbled something unintelligible as he apparently nodded off. Still a couple of guys with “fancy paint brushes” as he put it? More than likely some Makai Preists. Could be they were tracking a Horror. She looked back at where the spot used to be, could be they were doing something else. Like planting more Horror blood.
And suddenly she understood what Carter said Vincent told him about that slippery slope. It was way to easy to think the worse in this situation. Still it didn't hurt to check it out and see if she could find them. If they were after a Horror then she could lend a hand. If they were doing something else then she had a direction to send Carter in.
***
A man in a plain tee shirt and some jans ran as fast as he could down an abandoned street. Pausing just enough to look around in a panic he turned to his right and head down what looked like a possible escape route. Nearly tripping over his own feet he found himself in an open courtyard. He fell on his ass when he saw the only other person, a man in a dark double breasted coat with a weird looking brush in his hand. And an even stranger contraption on his wrist. The man looked at him with disdain. “You can't run from your destiny,” the man known as Reks told him.
Trying to get back to his feet and run in the other direction at the same time he stopped to see the other man that was after him. The one with the strange trinkets on his vest. Who also looked at him with an equal amount of disdain the other had. Scrambling to his feet he looked the area. Soon he realized it was just the two of them after him. The panic quickly went away as it turned to a soft chuckle that turned into a full on belly laugh. “What's so funny,” Terrance demanded.
“I don't believe it, I was running from a pair of Makai Priests,” he answered as he got himself under control, much to the dismay of the other two. More annoyance than dismay on Reks' part of the situation. Noticing that made the man want to start laughing all over again. “I though I was in trouble there for a moment.”
Gritting his teeth and tightening the grip on his brush Reks grunted, “Do not look down on Makai Priests.”
“Reks don't!”, Terrance called out but it was already too late. Reks charged the man, Brush glowing brightly, intending to smash it into the man's face. He caught the attempted blow easily wrapping his hand around Reks' wrist. An unnatural strength kept him there.
He looked at the Makai Priest's eyes, savoring the anger he was seeing in them. “Oh I am so looking down on you.” With little effort he slung Reks to the side. “I don't usually do angry,” he told him. “It makes you taste funny. Almost spoiled.” Terrance came at the man wanting to give his friend an opening to recover. He found the man gripping his throat as soon as he got close. “Now determination, now that adds a little kick to your flavor. Most Horrors don't care fore it mind you. It is a acquired taste after all.” Reks came at him came making him let go of Terrance. The two regrouped a bit to face the Horror together.
“Don't let him get to you,” Terrance Told Reks. An angry glare was the only response he got in return. “He's trying to get you angry, sloppy.,” he continued. “You need to calm down, center yourself.”
On some level Reks knew his compatriot was right. He was letting this Horror get under his skin. Yet it was so tempting just to pound that Horror's smug face in. Especially now as it stood there, just waiting on them to make a move. As tempting as that thought was he forced himself to find a center and concentrate on it, to calm the anger wanting to rage inside of him. That was how people of his ordered died. He would have to control his emotions.
Once the thought hit him that he would basically have to think like one of those blasted Makai Knights he was immediately filled with a sickening sensation. But it did the trick quickly enough that he made the barest of head turns to look at Terrance. He nodded in understanding as the both of them charged the Horror. Attacking from two different angles they tried to keep the creature off guard. And for a few moments they did so as it was obviously on the defensive. They backed up it against a trash can and caused it to trip over it. As one they charged their individual brushes and went to slam them on top of it.
The Horror got his arms up to block the duel strike. With some effort he pushed their arms away then rolled backwards to try and get to a standing position to just block another duel strike attempt. Now that it was on it's feet he kicked Reks away. Temporarily facing Terrance one on one the Horror broke through his attack once he looked at what happened to his partner. Reks came in with a flying kick that knocked the Horror back again and stood between it and Terrance. The Horror looked at them and grinned, “Looks like you have a bit more fight than I gave you credit for.” Eyes going pale Reks and Terrance got ready for what was coming next, “Now the fun can really begin.” The Horror crossed it's arms while hunching over a bit. Rearing back and swinging his arms out it looked at the night sky as an unearthly scream came from it's throat. The skin on it seemingly ripping away in an instant as the black leathery skin of the winged, horned Horror emerged from it's disguise. Pointed tail swishing behind it the Horror rose up a hand and mockingly waved the two Makai Priest on.
Now realizing that antagonizing was one of it's tricks Reks waited until Terrance was clear headed again before attacking once more. Both fully aware at how much more dangerous the Horror could be now that it's true form was revealed. It was ready for the duel strike as it's own became more animalistic. And Reks and Terrance both knew they would have to work harder to try to keep one step ahead of the monster before them. Or at least the Horror thought that what they were trying to do. Both of them quickly backed away, so fast the creature thought they were attempting to run away, not that it would have done either of them any good.
But then Reks shouted, “Now!” Terrance reached up and pulled two of the trinkets off his coat. Waving the brush over them so the glowed he tossed them so they landed on either side of the Horror. Looking at the seemingly discarded trinkets it didn't react fast enough as the glow became a small, bright flash. A greenish circle made of symbols appeared at it's feet. Then lines made of those symbols reached up and grabbed the Horror around the wrist, ankles and neck holding it in place.
Both Makai Priests watched the Horror. Terrance in slight amazement, and a little pride, that his binding spell was working so well. Reks just looked on smugly. Still struggling to break it's bonds the Horror looked directly at him and screamed. Feeling that he was in total control Reks walked up to it, well withing reach if it's hands were free. “I told you your destiny was at hand.” Holding out an arm he looked the creature right in the eyes as the shaft from the device on his wrist extended and unfolded into a saw blade that quickly grew in size. Bringing his Brush to it a green Makai fire blazed on the edge of the blade as it started spinning. But he didn't strike at it right away, instead he started taunting the Horror. He wanted to see fear shine in those unholy eyes.
Behind him Terrance was wonder what the hell he was doing. “Reks do it.” He got a little more nervous as the symbol lines started to blink in and out. The Horror was starting to break the binding spell. “Reks now! Before it breaks free!”
“Go back to you unholy pit monster,” Reks said coldly as he brought the spinning blade up and down. The Horror reared it's head back and screamed as the device dug into it's shoulder. Behind him Terrance couldn't see the sick grin form on Reks' face as he saw the pain his creation was causing the Horror. Couldn't see him savor it, tasting the victory right before him. Then it all went wrong. Breaking the binding spell the Horror lashed out, knocking Reks to the ground. Terrance tried to grab a couple of more trinkets but the Horror was already on him before he could touch one. After a brief struggle his brush went flying and he landed hard to the ground. But the Horror didn't kill him despite being the easier of the two at the moment. Instead it turned back toward Reks who was still staring in disbelief at the still spinning saw. The Horror smiled tasting the brokenness of his spirit from where it was.
It's meal was interrupted as new person ran onto the courtyard and kicked the Horror away. Taking up a defensive stance Jules tried to position herself between it and her fellow Priests as best as she could. Grinning at the newcomer sensing more easy prey. With another scream it charged at Jules who ran on at the same time. The creature quickly realized something different with this one as it attacks seemed crisper and more precise with her attacks than the other two, despite her style seeming to be more dance like than the other two. The fluidity of her movements allowed her to get in reach to attack then quickly get out of it's grasp before the Horror could do anything.
Jules realized how strong this particular Horror was pretty much right away and made sure she wasn't in place long enough for it to do anything. Although there were a couple of close calls as she felt it get a grip on her every so often. But she quickly broke it's grasp as soon as she felt it. When she could she tried to steal a glance toward Terrance and Reks, since she wouldn't personally complain at this particular moment if they decided to try and help. From what she could get out of those quick glimpses Terrance was slowly coming to while Reks just stayed on the ground staring at the thing on his arm. Right now one would have been a bigger help than the other. So she was pretty much on her own at this particular moment. Throwing a few kicks in she cartwheeled away to create some space. Holding out her right arm she shot a magical blast at a trash can and ignited the contents. Concentrating she started to draw the flame in to the glowing tip of her brush. Pirouetting the flames spiraled around her as she brought her hands over her head. As soon as the flames collected in to a ball shape connected to the tip of her brush she brought her right arm down with a shout and blasted the Horror with it. The spell was powerful enough that the Horror exploded on the spot.
Remembering what happened the last time she used this particular spell Jules looked at her Madou Brush. She smiled slightly, not even singed.
The moment of self congratulations over she turned toward her fellow Priests, “You guys alright?”
“I have been better,” Terrance grunted as he finally got to his feet.
She looked over at Reks who finally sat up, which eased her mind a bit, but he was still staring at the saw blade attached to his arm. Terrance was the first to go to him to make sure if he was hurt in some way. All he could get out of them was, “That should have worked.”
“I still don't understand what's going on,” Jules started to say before she got a real good look at the device on his wrist. Something about sparked a long forgotten memory. “Wait, isn't that the saw blade idea you came up with when we were younger?”
Reks seemed to finally realized she was there as he seemed surprised to see her. That surprised turned to something else as she said, “You remembered.”
Yeah that almost love lorn look wasn't making her feel queasy at all. “I remember Vincent thought he talked you out of it.” Once again his expression changed. Dejection maybe, perhaps some betrayal. So much so even Terrance adjusted himself a bit to get between them a little more.
“It will work,” he said almost defiantly. Then he looked back at it as it decreased in size and retracted itself back to the device. “It should have work. I worked out everything.” Getting to his feet he took the device of and examined it as he walked away. “I've tweaked the designed for past couple of decades. Thought of everything to improve it. It should have worked.”
“Or maybe Vincent was right when you first showed it to him,” Jules countered, “and it's not something to take on a Horror with.”. He snapped his head toward her. Yup that was definitely betrayal on his features. “Look Reks I understand, really I do. You want to be out there hunting down Horrors I get it. But Vincent taught us both Reks, he knew what our individual strengths were. You can fight Horrors but your true talents lie in creating things like that,' she gestured toward the device on his forearm. “But he also tried to show you there are even limitation to what even you can do.” She took a step toward him hoping she was getting through to him. “I know you're capable of creating some amazing things, like those Gōryū things they started using in Japan. But you have to know when a bad idea is a bad idea and let it go.”
He was quiet for a long time, just looking at his creation. “Maybe you're right Jules. Maybe this was a folly. But,” he said looking at her, “I followed my strengths. Like you follow yours. Maybe I can even think of something to help with your fire draw attack. I know you been working on some sort of flint device of your own. I can help with that, I already have something in mind. Where you can spark a flame with a snap of your figures.”
“That would've be pretty helpful in a few cases,” she said giving him an sincere smile.
“That's why we'd make a good team,” he said. “We do make a good team. Ever since we were younger and learning under Vincent. We're the perfect partners,” He reached out and took her hand. “In every way possible.” He opened his heart to her in the only way he could. Which was why he was so shocked when she pulled her hand away while looking slightly upset. “Jules?”
Looking over at Terrance she told him, “I wish you told him what I told you the other night.”
Terrance walked away as Reks looked back and forth between them. “Tell me what? I don't understand. Jules I love...”
“Reks,” she said, probably a bit sharper than what she wanted. But she had to get him to stop right there. “I don't, not in that way.” The heartbreak he was feeling was evident and it upset her that she was hurting him like this. But it had to be done, for both of their sakes. “You're going to make somebody really happy one day. And I'll be happy for you when it happens. I love you like a brother and that's as far as my feelings go for you.” He turned away from her and lower his head. “I'm sorry Reks, I really am. And I'm sorry it had to go down this way.”
“I think,” Terrance finally spoke up, “I think it's be better if you left now.” Both of them looked over at Reks, both expecting him to say something. Nothing came from him.
Realizing just how bad she actually hurt him Jules nodded, “Maybe I better.” She started to reach out to him as she past, to touch his shoulder, but she thought better of it and kept on walking. Once far enough away she wiped a small tear from her eye. That sucked more than she thought it was going to. But, again, it had to be done.
“It's that damn Knight,” Reks finally muttered through his teeth, visibly shaking he was so angry at the thought.”
“Reks,” Terrance told him, “I hate the Knights as much as you do. But I'm telling you, friend to friend, Greystone is not at fault here.” That look of betrayal returned as Reks faced him. “She just doesn't feel the same way for you that you feel for her, even I see that.”
“If I just told her what was going on,” Reks said suddenly. “Get her to understand what we're doing.”
“And we were specifically told not to include her for a reason,” he countered. “Even if she didn't have feelings for Greystone there is no way she would get behind this. You have to know that.”
Looking at nothing in particular in the distance for a long time Reks finally said, “No she wouldn't. Jules doesn't see things the same way that we do.” Terrance looked at him, a bit worried at how calm he seems now. It was almost eerie compared to the anger that was bubbling just below the surface just a few moments ago. “She'll be one of the Priests on the attack once our goals become clear. But she'll see, they will all see what we're doing is right.” Reks glanced at device on his forearm one last time, “Especially when I get this to work.”
***
“The search has been going rather slowly,” Vincent said as he spoke to the Watchdogs situated above him in their usual balconies. With their usual bored expression it was nearly impossible to read what they were thinking as he delivered this bit of news. Even for as long as he had been dealing with them Vincent could never claim any sort of accuracy in that respect. It was one of the main reasons why the Rook before Carter detested dealing with them face to face. And if he had to be completely honest he wasn't particularly found of these moments himself. “Carter,” he continued, “Morgan, Jules and myself are doing what we can to search the city. However given we are only a small group we are at a bit of a disadvantage. As it is we're discovering these spots of Horror Blood more by blind luck than anything else”
“That is completely understandable,” the female Watchdog said. “But given the nature of the possible division of our ranks we must keep this particular circle as small as possible.”
“I understand and agree,” Vincent told her. “As I told Carter we are on a bit of a slipper slope. One wrong decision, or trusting the wrong individual, could sends us down the way to a war we just barely avoided couple of years prior.”
“We are aware of that as well,” The female said. “However we do not currently have a way to make the search any easier.”
“Perhaps there is something Illuminia,” the male Watchdog suddenly woke up.
“Nisoka,” the female cut in. her expression did not change as she looked at him, but there was no denying the warning tone in her voice. While rare Vincent had witness exchanges like this before, where one knew what the other was thinking and was angry about the thought that occurred. It had been rumored for a long time that these two might have possibly shared a single mind. And when these particular moments happened it was a rather easy rumor to believe. “We do not discuss that situation Makai Priest Alexander created.”
Tilting his head a bit in confusion Vincent, went “I know Alexander and I'm currently unaware of any 'situation' he might have caused.”
the male Watchdog looked down at him, “Situation may be the wrong word to use. Perhaps project would be a more accurate term one like yourself would use.” If one wasn't use to these particular Watchdogs them they might take the way Nisoka said that as a mild insult. Knowing these Watchdogs for as long as he had it was still easy to take it as a mild insult.
Fortunately Vincent had been alive long enough to know when and where to pick particular battles. For a relatively minor slip of the tongue this was not one of those times. “It probably would be if I was aware of what this particular project was about.”
“It goes against every thing we have been told to protect against,” Illuminia said with a bit of a huff.
“It may be,” Nisoka told her, “but I have already sent a message to Rook.”
“My esteem Watchdogs,” Vincent said with some respect. “While I'm sure Carter would be very grateful of any help in his current assignment, in fact I'm positive of it. However it does seem like you're keeping something from the rest of us. Something that we might want to know about.”
“It is a secret folly that we allowed to happen,” Nisoka answered, “that we nor any other of the Watchdogs or the Senate pictured could happen. Despite our better judgment we agreed to house the project here in this city since the seeds of it's creation began here. Alexander was very persuasive in his argument in allowing this project to happen. Illuminia and myself have both agreed to not mention this to any other Knight or Priest in the order.”
“And yet I'm vaguely aware of it now,” Vincent replied with a bit of mirth.
Nisoka and Illuminia looked at each other again in silent communication. After a bit she nodded and retreated back into her balcony. Nisoka told him, “We will leave it up to Rook to divulge what he has seen. Or the person he chooses to go with him.”
“Well if she any where near I'm fairly sure I know who he's going to pick,” Vincent said with a warm knowing smile, mainly to himself. They had seem to be getting closer lately and he couldn't be happier for them. “Then I will honor your decision on the matter, and Carter's later if he decided to or not to let me in on the secret.” With a bow he made his leave and exited into the darkness of the lighted area.
***
Carter stood in the middle of a barely lit room, staff in hand. Past some pillars his coat was hanging from a hook but still giving Xypher a full view of the proceedings. He started swing the staff around, attack and blocking imaginary opponents, incorporating the various kicks, punched and movements of the fighting styles he learned under as he did so. In the middle of his routine he paused just long enough to hold the staff up a bit, both hands on it. Waiting a moment longer he pulled it apart to reveal the hidden blades and struck at something. Spark flew as it went past as he already intercepted another on with the other blade. Again he went into a routine of strikes and movements as he went after the objects coming at him.
Near to where his coat was hung a door opened just enough as Jules came in and silently closed it behind her. Walking over to the coat she spoke to Xypher, “Doing his morning workout I see.”
“You ever know him to miss it?”, the pin asked. “Is anything going on?”
“No just stopping by to say hello.” And maybe wanting to see a friendly face, or two if you wanted to count the Madou pin, after what had to go down with Reks the night before. The two watched on in silence as Carter continued his work out. Finally connecting the two swords into the double bladed staff Carter continued deflecting what was coming after him.
Eventually things slowed down enough that Carter stood there as four giant axes slowed down enough to be seen in the dim lighting. Standing there until they came to a complete stop Carter broke the weapon in his hands back into two swords before putting them back together to for it's original staff form. Here he finally acknowledged her presence as the axes came to a stop and retracted back into the ceiling. And she didn't mind waiting in this particular situation. Makai Knights generally trained with things that could kill them if they weren't completely focused on them. “Jules.”
She walked forward with a smile, “I hope you don't mind that I let myself in.”
“I said you were always welcomed here,” he reminded her.
“Although you did say you generally ask before coming in first,” Xypher reminded her. “It would be rude after all I believe your words were.”
“I can come over there and flick you myself,” Jules told the pin.
“Carter don't let her,” the pin pleaded.
“Hmph,” Jules grunted. “I would ask you if you wanted to spar a bit but you already had your workout. And I don't want to embarrass you after being all tired and such,” she said, mainly in a teasing way. Carter just grunted, although there was the slightest hint of a smirk there as he walked over to his coat and put it on. “Since we're down here have you even decided on what you're going to do with that empty room over there?” she pointed to a set of doors on the left side of the training area. “I mean you have a half sized room in there and you're doing nothing with it.”
“I'll think of something,” Carter told as he held the door out open for her. “Did that hunch turn out?”
“There was a spot of Horror blood alright,” she answered. “I took care of it. But we're no closer to figuring out who's placing it.”
Taking a flight of stairs that would take them to the main house above them Carter said, “I spotted another one, inside a building and in plain sight. I'm not sure if whomever behind this is is getting sloppy or trying to plant false trails to distract us.”
“One thing at a time Carter,” she said. Opening the door that was basically a secret panel they entered what was essentially a side room that was used for storage. And waiting for them was a small hooded individual. Without a word Carter stepped forward and it removed a gnarly, weathered hand from it's sleeve, fingers clutching a red envelope. Holding out his hand until Carter took it he put his hand back into the sleeve of his other arm, turned and walked out of the room.
Behind him Jules commented, “I still say it creepy how they do that.”
Still saying nothing Carter held the envelope in his left hand as he retrieved his Madou lighter with his right and lit the corner. The envelope quickly burned and reformed into a message hanging in the air in front of him in the Makai Language. Reading it Carter said, “The Watchdogs may have something that will help with our search. I'm allowed to bring a person I can trust.”
Having read the message for herself Jules commented, “That better be somebody really close by Mr. Makai Knight. Besides I know where that location is,” she added as the message faded away.”
“So do I,” he informed her. He looked back at her, with a look she never seen on him before, before looking away. Was that apprehension? From Carter of all people? “And if I'm not mistaken that cafe Vincent like is not that far off route.” He looked back at her again, “We never did make it there the other day. I sort of ran off after you told me about that Horror we were after.”
Again she was a little surprised that he made that offer. Not that she was totally against it.”Then we'll have something to do afterwards then. As long as nothing major happens along the way. I better not jinx it, it'll be night in a few hours and we don't know how long this is going to take.”
***
They arrived at the location soon enough. Jules was the first to point it out their apparent destination. It seemed like a regular knick knack store from appearances. Then Xypher spoke up, “Wait a second Carter. I'm sensing a barrier around the building.” He and Jules looked at each other, both with a similar question going through their minds. What was here that a barrier had to be erected around it. Being more proficient of the two in these sort of things Jules took the lead at this point as they crossed the street. She watched regular people pass in front of it and go in and out of it as they approached.
“Looks like it's not designed to keep everybody out,” she commented. As they got closer Jules looked over the front of the building, trying to find the tell tale signs of the cause of the barrier. “There,” she didn't point at it but looked up enough that Carter did as well. He found it soon enough, a paper seal stuck to upper corner of the building. “It looks like somebody from the Order put it up.” She looked at Carter, “To keep any Horrors out?”
“It's a possibility,” he said. Xypher confirmed where he edge of the barrier was. Holding out a hand Carter felt nothing. Although he did get a few strange looks from those passing him by. Then he took step foreword not feeling anything pushing against him. “Xypher?”
“We're inside the barrier,” the pin replied as Jules joined them. “And I'm not sensing anything from inside the building. So I have no idea what's being protected in there.”
“Unless it's to keep something in and not out,” Carter said, mainly thinking out loud. “But why would the Watchdogs send us here if that was the case. And how can it help us with the current matter?”
“I'm sure there's a reason,” Jules said. Smirking a bit she went, “You ever notice what we do tends to make us paranoid all the time?” When Carter didn't respond she lost the smile, “Right, I forgot Makai Knights don't have a funny bone in these situations.”
“When did Carter ever have one to begin with? Ow,” the pin cried out after a flick.
With not a while lot of options, they headed for the main door. A small, pleasant sounding bell chimed as they opened the door. A bored looking teenager barely glanced at them before returning to whatever it was she was reading. Sticking together they wondered the store looking for any signs of whatever oi was they were supposed to be looking for. Once again Jules spotted it first, a small sign near the back written in the Makai language of all things. Basically it translated to “Around the corner.” Carter looked back to the teenage girl, realized they couldn't see her from this location which meat she probably couldn't see them. That corner lead to the door to the back room from the look of things but it couldn't be that simple. He looked around then saw another sign written in Makai. “Open here.”
Feeling around the sign he felt a small switch with his fingertips and pressed it. After a small click it look like the wall moved in a bit. Making sure the cashier still couldn't see them Carter gave it a small push. The hidden door swung open easy enough, it didn't even make a sound. “That some top craftsmanship right there, there should at least be a creak if we didn't make this door.” Jules muttered as they went through the door. It closed without a sound as well that left them in retaliative darkness, except for a faint light at the end of the hallway they were now in. Cautiously they walked toward it they turned a corner and enter a larger room.
In the middle what looked like a set of mechanical vines twisting around each other took up most of the room. Various glowing symbols slowly traveled up it. Around the room were various monitors on the walls and a couple of tables with various looking things on them. Some thing that you would see out in the regular human world. Then there were some things that would look right at home in their world.. At the base of the mechanical vines was a regular looking desktop. And and almost normal looking computer. Almost normal looking because some of those mechanical vines seem to sprout out and grew into the tower and monitor. And in the chair in front of it was a lone man in very regular looking clothes. Without looking at them he raised up a hand and went, “Yo.”
“Um...hello,” Jules said for them. “We were sent by the...”
“Yeah, yeah sent by the Watchdogs,” he interrupted them. “They're the only ones who know about this place. Outside of my man Alex. And whoever he had help make this beautiful set up.”
Jules walked around the room a bit looking over the thing in the middle of the room. She pretty much knew this had to be a Makai Priest creation on sight. Still a bit of verbal confirmation was nice. “Alex? You mean Alexander? I've heard Vincent and a few other Priest mention him.”
“They don't really shorten names in your guy's clique do they?”, this person said. “But yeah him. Help me set up here with the little store front after my beauty here was done.” Suddenly he spun around in his chair startling Jules a bit. “Oh my God where is my head? You may call me K-Byte,” he held his arms out in a pose mainly seen on an old pro wrestler, “Rider of the digital waves.” Carter remained stone faced while Jules just cocked an eyebrow. Dismayed by their lack of reaction he lowered his arms. “Hey, you guys have your cool ass titles I have mine.”
“Well then... um,” Jules said as she continued looking around the room, particular at mixed collection of item from both their and the regular world and how he was dressed, “K-Byte...you're not exactly part of the Makai Order are you?”
“Not officially,” he conceded. “But your Order has more than a few, what's a good word here, outside contractors like myself helping you guys out. A couple of us even formed an online members only group. It was started by this one lady in Japan. Her family have been tending the bodies of fallen Knights over there for a couple of generations. Well not all knight, the ones not like you,' he said pointing at Carter, “without the fancy ass title. “ He then looked Carter over with an amused smile on his face. “Blew my mind when I got word they were sending The Double Bladed Knight over. Big fan by the way.” Turning back to the computer he did something with the mouse and keyboard. When he was finished he pointed toward one of the screens littered across the wall with both hand and made a clicking sound with his tongue. In an instant there was a video of Carter taking on a couple of Horrors in some sort of lobby. “Personal favorite fight moment by the way.”
Carter easily remembered this particular moment. It was from six months ago though. He looked back over at this K-byte, who was still enthralled over the footage being played, with a bit more suspicion. Seeing this Jules figured to interject before Carter did. “Why do you have this footage?” Carter probably would have asked him the same question, just not as nicely, or as hands off, as she did.
“Because you guys have a hard time keeping secret in this modern camera filled world,” he explained. “Even back before all of that there were rumors and stories of Knights and Horrors. But with modern technology curious and talented people, like myself, can find the occasional image or video and share the hell out of it to like minded curious and talented people. Or to just people in general.”
Figuring out the rest of the story Jules said, “But you got caught.”
“Even the best have a sloppy moment here and there,” was all he said. “Alex tracked me down one night. And instead of zapping or whatever it is you do to the ol' memory pan” he tapped his own head, “had the best idea ever. Since it didn't involve getting my noggin scrambled that is.”
Jules asked, “And this idea was?”
“That I use my particular set of skills to make sure that proof of you guys don't get out.”
“We have people for that,” Jules informed him.
K-byte attitude didn't change a bit at this piece of information. “I'm sure you do. And I'm sure they are very, very good at it. But I'm also pretty sure your people don't know where all the digital cracks are that things can slip through. I, on the other hand, do know where they are. And more importantly I know how to use those cracks to find proof of all you Knights, Priests and Horrors and make them,” for empathizes K-Byte wiggled his fingers as he moved his hands to the side, “magically go away.”
“And how exactly do you do that?”, Jules went.
“I use a really specialized type of search engine, co-developed my me and Alex of course.” He went back to his computer and started doing something again. “I'm sure you guys don't know what a search engine is.” He looked back up at her, “Well you might but not tall, silent and dreamy over there.”
“I know what search engine is,” Carter finally spoke. Also clearly annoyed at this particular moment.
“Right city Makai people,” Ky-byte muttered “It's probably the country ones I'm thinking about.” He did a double take over at Carter, more specifically something on his chest, and rose from his chair to get a better look. “Is that one of those talking do-dads? I always wanted to see one live.” Without thinking of any personal space issues he reached out with a hand.”
“Do not touch me,” Xypher ordered. K-Byte almost laughed with pure joy. “I'm pretty sure I know where that hand has been. And I'm not a do-dad I'm a pin. Moron.”
“That is so cool,” K-byte said. Then he held up a device in his other hand, “Say cheese.” Carter flinched back a bit being caught off guard. The device made a small click. The K-Byte went back to his chair setting the device down as he started working the keyboard again. Here Carter noticed there was a wire connecting the device he used to the computer. “As I was saying, specialized search engine. I can use it to look up key words that would connect to you guys. Or use Alex genius input and search by image.” Pushing back from the computer he held his arms out wide. All the screens changed to images of Carter from various angles. Jules payed a bit more attention when she noticed she was in them too. “All of these are from the past half hour. From various and different types sources. Thanks to Alex's magical mumbo jumbo I searched them all in less than a second looking for any and all images of you. Beautiful ain't it?”
Walking up to one of the screens Carter just stared at it, now fully aware on exactly why the Watchdogs sent him here. “Have you been told about the situation?”
“The Horror blood thing or the Japan issue redo?”, he asked. Having what Sigma tried to do just mentioned so causally, like it wouldn't have devastated their order, like that irked the Knight a bit but he said nothing. “Yeah I was brought up to speed and given what you guys know.” Pressing a few more keys he snapped his fingers before making the double hand pointing gesture again, this time toward the ceiling. A magical projection of the city appeared in the air with various dots in certain locations. “Another on of Alex's tricks he put in.”
“Why didn't you put the images on the screen up there like that?”, Jules asked.
“I like to mix it up,” was his response. “I'm sure you guessed the dots point out where all you guys found blood. It's not much so far but it gives us an idea on where they been.”
“Are you sure it's more than one one person?”, Carter asked noticing how he phrased that statement.
K-Byte humphed, “I didn't think I had to tell the two of you it's a big city. You actually think one guy, or gal,” he said looking at Jules, “could do all that by their lonesome? And there's bound to be more. And the more you find the more we can see where they been. Or haven't been more importantly, if they're not that smart that is.”
“You think they might have marked an area they're actually hiding at”, Jules asked him.
“If they're spreading out Horror blood it's a good bet they expected you guys to find it sooner or later and try exactly this,' he said pointing at the map. “Hell when I was looking around for info about you guys I used to leave false trails all the time. Then I got cute and left one leading to a server I actually used positive nobody would think I'd be that careless.” He offered a weak smile at Jules, “You could say I'm going by experience with that particular assumption.”
Sighing as she looked up at the map Jules crossed her arms and said, “Then how are we supposed to narrow things down with something like as an option?”
“Like Is said before, sloppy mistakes. You Makai Order guys can't all that infallible? You're human like the rest of us.” He glanced at Carter, “Unless you all act like a humanoid robot?”
Ignoring the comment Carter went, “Have you searched the area to see who left the blood?”
“Yup and so far nada,” K-Byte answered. “As you said you have guys doing this do and I'm sure they told you to try to not where to be. And these guys are doing their damnedest to not be in any area where there might be a camera. But there's more than one type of camera. Phones, hand held,” he started to count them off on his finger, “web cams, go pros. You can't shake a stick in the city without being caught somewhere. Unfortunately,” he pointed at Carter, “you lost our best chance of of catching one of them when you let that hotel catch on fire. All that information was lost when their servers got destroyed. They weren't even on a cloud system they were so behind the times.”
Jules got defensive for Carter, “You try fighting a Horror and see how much damage you could prevent.”
“Okay okay,” he said backing off with his hands in the air. “But I can still be of help.” Getting out if the chair he waved for them to follow him to one table in particular. Grabbing two silver, marble sized balls and handed one to each of them. “Not one of Alex's toys but one of the guys who helped him. Their magical communicators that connect to the system here. And to each other. All you have to do is give them a rub to activate 'em and either say my name or yours. Every time you find a spot, contact me and I'll add your location to the map up there. Also I can contact you in case I find out something that you might be interested in.”
“That would be pretty helpful,” Jules said examining the silver ball. She lowered it to look at Carter, “Why would the Watchdogs keep this a secret?”
“Would you admit you had an outsider helping if you were in charge?”, Xypher asked her.
“Alex already said I'd be the dirty little secret so it's all good in the hood,” K-Byte told them. “Besides Alex also said some of you get a pit prickly when us norms stumble into your territory. And uh, considering what you guys can do, I'll stay off the magical radar as much as possible thank you.”
Looking back at the way they came in Carter asked, “And the girl out front?”
“My niece,” he said. “We're both kinda the black sheeps of the family so we tend to get along. But she doesn't know anything about all of this. She doesn't even pay that much attention on who leaves and enters. Unless you look like Brad Pitt. Or was it Angelina Jolie? Eh, either way she swings she doesn't bother anybody. Or scare them away more importantly.”
Not seeing or thinking of anything else to ask Jules told him good-bye as Carter turned to leave. Although on the way out she did purchase a small item, a small plastic cat. When Carter looked at her once they hit the street her only explanation was, “I didn't want to walk out of there with nothing as long as we were there. Who knows what the girl thinks we were doing in the back. Besides it's sort of cute.” Carter grunted and continued on. “Are we still on for the cafe or are plans going to change again?”
Carter stopped almost causing her to walk into him. All he said was, “You were right.”
“Well generally I am,” Jules said as she walked in front of him. “But what am I right about this time?”
“I am getting a bit paranoid,” he explained, “because of this this assignment. The Watchdogs sent us here and I got suspicious the moment Xypher said he sensed that barrier.” Jules knew that was only natural, considering what happened before, and told him so. Carter only response was, “How much do you remember of what happened when Sigma's message really started to pick up followers?”
It was a strange question but she answered anyway, “I know it nearly ruined everything until it got out what Sigma plan for keeping the Horrors out of this world pertained. Honestly I'm going on heresy and rumor here, Vincent tried to keep me and Reks shielded from the most of it.”
“I wasn't that lucky,” Carter told her. “A few months before I was chosen to take the Rook mantle, I had a friend, a close friend who was a Makai Priest. He had just graduated. I considered him a brother. One day, once Sigma's crusade started to really gain steam, he attacked me.” Jules sucked in a little breath but said nothing. “Fully intending to kill me, just because I was a Makai Knight. And I had no clue there was an issue between us, not until Sigma. Once I heard the Watchdogs think somebody might be taking it up his cause again, I thought back to that moment. And felt a need to stop it before that happened to someone else. No matter where it came from. Now I'm wondering which slop I'm starting to go down because of it.”
“I'm sorry you had to go through that,” she said rubbing his arm. And wondering if Reks did suffer something similar to explain his hatred of Makai Knights. But unlike Reks, “But you never lost your faith in the order of Makai Priests. You knew not all of us thought Sigma was right. Otherwise you wouldn't have let me in on what was going on.” She started rubbing his arm up to his shoulder and back, trying to comfort anything brewing inside of him. “If you want I can come by tonight after we're done patrolling, and I mean that's a fairly old wound you just opened up. I'm sure your experiencing those feelings all over again. And maybe we can finally share that bed of yours, just so you don't have to be alone tonight.” Carter looked at her, face unreadable, and went to leave. She stopped him by grabbing his arm and getting in front of him. “All right I'll admit that was a bit too soon after what you just told me. But it looks like today the day I have to have a certain conversation with most of the men in my life.”
Taking him by the hands she began, “Now don't get mad at Xypher. But he told me why you take the couch while I'm sleeping in your bed.” He grimaced and looked down at the pin. Luckily for Xypher she had a good grip on both of his hands. “Now it's completely honorable, kind of sweet, and totally you. And I don't want you to feel like I'm pushing you into anything you don't want to do. Or that I do this with every man I know that having some issues. We don't have to do anything but sleep if you want. But I don't think you realizing one thing with the way you're thinking about the situation. If somebody does attack us, I don't want somebody to fight for me.” Reaching up she cupped his cheek with her hand and caressed it a bit as she looked him in the eyes, “I want somebody to fight with me. Side by side, to show them exactly why that was the single worst mistake they have ever made.”
“Jules,” he started.
“Sh,” she said to quiet him. “Don't say anything just yet. Just think it over. Maybe over dinner at that cafe if we ever make it there.” She offered him a smile. He nodded a bit, but she realized he didn't exactly let go of her hand as they continued down the street. Toward that very cafe.
***
Nearby, watching them from an alley was Reks. He turned away, leaning against the brick wall behind him like it was the only thing that could keep him up. Fist clenching in anger he stormed away in another direction. “That damn Knight.”
The next night Carter was walking through the park having gotten word from the Watchdogs that something Horror related was nearby. A rumor K-Byte confirmed when Jules decided to test out the silver balls he had given them. She would have been her with him as partners, that much was decided upon the night before. However Vincent wanted to see her suddenly, to discuss the placement of these spots of Horror blood. Both of them deciding that was equally important considering the situation she headed off to Vincent's while he headed here. “So you and Jules,” Xypher said suddenly, mainly because he was excited about the prospect, maybe a little more then the two of them. “It's about time.” Carter grunted. “Come on aren't you a little bit nervous about it. I mean you still seem pretty tightly wound though. Wait, let me guess, you just slept like she suggested?” Carter grunted again, with a bit more of a warning undertone to it. “I can tell, even the old man was a bit looser after he and his late wife...”
“If you do not drop this,” Carter told him sternly, “right now, I will flick you every hour on the hour for the next week.”
“Yeah you guys definitely didn't do anything last night,”Xypher said under his breath, not that he could breath.
Before could do anything he stopped, tilting his head just a bit as he listened to his surroundings. Before long he was surrounded by six grungy looking individuals. “Took a wrong turn bitch,” one of them said. “You're in our territory now. We don't like strangers in out territory.” Slowly spinning around to look at each one he took out his Madou Lighter. Flicking it to life he brought the blue flame to a bush next to him and ignited it. The blue blaze lighted the area for a moment before quickly dying out. But it was on long enough for five sets of their eyes to react, revealing themselves as Horrors. The sixth, the previous speaker, saw it too and slowly backed away from the scene. “What the fuck?”
Not paying any attention to the lone human he still told him one thing, “Run now.” He didn't need to be told twice as he did just that. One of the Horrors started to go after him. That was the one Carter targeted first, grabbing by the collar and pulling him back before unleashing a kick at one coming at him from behind. The others jumped in and tried to smother him.
“That was our snack!”, one of the cried out as Carter fought them off and tried to get out of the center of this particular group. But the numbers held him in place increasing their their attack the moment he concentrated on side in particular. Getting battered around he was able to get enough space to reach into his coat. Slamming the but of the staff into one of the Horror's stomach he whipped it around into the knee of another. Two temporarily down, and the others recognizing the increased range of his reach as they held back to regroup, he tried to keep all of them in sight while gripping the staff in both hands.
The other two recovering and getting to their feet quicker than he anticipated he waited for them to make the first move. The Horrors didn't disappoint as they quickly shed their human disguise as he was now surrounded by five very demonic looking individuals. Gripping the staff a little tighter he didn't have to wait long for them to make their move. As soon as they did he pulled the staff apart and started slashing with the duel blades hidden inside. Attacking and blocking where he could Carter was just barely able to stay a step ahead of them. The Horrors didn't panic just yet as they were certain their numbers would give them the superior advantage and they would soon wear him down enough to defeat and devour him. Carter realized this as well but refused to let fear into his mind and cloud his judgment and reflexes. Then he found his moment, he swiped at one Horror's head to get it to back off a bit he jumped just high enough to slam the point of his knee right under the jaw of another. A couple of swings and kicks to create some more space he connected the other ends of the staff together and spun the double bladed staff over his head. With a nod red armor rained down upon him covering him as he continued his attack, Swinging his blades and stabbing them through before they could react.
The Horrors started to stumble back a bit as the armor returned to whence it came. Swing the swords around until they were in position he reconnected them into the staff. Then one by one the horror exploded leaving him all alone in the park once more. He looked around, tried to sense if there was another Horror, perhaps a stronger one who was leading this particular pack, nearby. So far there was nothing that he could detect. “Xy...”
He barely had a chance to speak when the pin shouted, “Carter look out!” He didn't have a chance to discover what Xypher saw as a blast of magical energy hit him and knocked him to the ground and caused him to drop the staff. “Carter are you all right?”, he heard Xypher say but he was too stunned and in pain to respond. Clutching at his chest as he writhed on the ground once he was able to move his eyes focused enough to see his assailant. With a sinister grin on his face and his Madou Brush till leveled at him Reks came forward.
'The sheer arrogance of a Makai Knight,” he said,a hint of a chuckle edging his voice. “Trying to look so majestic and aloof. Even when they think nobody is watching. It's sickening.”
Propping himself up, although a bit painfully, Carter look at him, “What are you do doing Reks?”?
“I thought that would be obvious,” he said. Then he attacked again with with another blast from his brush. Pushing past the pain Carter rolled out of the way. Getting to a knee he blocked a strike at his head with the still glowing brush. A quick shot to the gut with his other arm caused the Priest to stumble back enough that Carter was able to get to his feet. Reks moved quickly and positioned himself between the Knight and his weapon. The Knight went at and tried to keep the Madou brush from coming into play as the bother attacked each other. Punches, swings and kicks flew between them as each man tried to get the better of the other. While not as a proficient fighter like Carter or Jules, Reks was more than holding his own. So much so they blocked each other and stood there at a stalemate with their limbs struggling against the other. Reks looked at him and sneered, “The reign of the Makai Knights is over!”
Carter stared at him, for had heard something like that before. Years ago, from the person he considered a brother. “It was you,” he said. “You're the one trying to reignite the rifts between Priests and Knights.” A new determination filling him he pushed Reks away. As he told Jules he would not allow those rifts to be exploited again. Catching the Priest off guard with the intensity of his attack Carter quickly broke through his attempts at defense and connected with a series of punches and kicks that knocked Reks to the ground. Grabbing him by the coat Carter hauled him back up. “I won't allow you to damage our Order more then already has been.”
“It's been damaged already,” Reks spat at the ground. “By the arrogance of Knights. And the Priest who allow you to run free. Who forgot that we created you! Myself and the others,” he said while that grin started to form again, “we will remind the rest that you are our dogs. Like my new pet for the last day.” He held his Madou Brush, that he was able to keep a grip on, out but it wasn't pointed at Carter. It was pointed at a heavier forested area of the park. It glew as a magical ring of symbols swirled around the base of the bristles. Then he heard the footsteps. Carter looked in that direction and let go of Reks as it emerged.
It was a huge metallic looking creature, almost twice the size that he was. But this was no Horror, it would have made this easier if it was. The animalistic, but still wolf like appearance, of the head and eyes seemed to focus on the Knight as it roared as it's tail lashed back and forth behind it.. “How did he make him turn into a Lost Soul Beast?”, Xypher asked. This was happened when a Makai Knight stayed in his armor for too long, why they were aware of a mystical type of timer that started the moment they donned their armor. Acting more animal like than man as it slowly came toward them Reks just laughed at the stunned expression on Carter's face. Kicking the Knight away as he scrambled to his feet he kept his brush up. The pulsing of the tip of the brush almost in time with the Beast's movements “Reks is controlling him? That's not possible.”
“Wonder about it later,” Carter grunted as the Beast charged at him. Jumping on top at and outstretched arm reaching for him The Knight ran up and and tried to jump off it's shoulder. The tail lashed out and caught him in the side, practically throwing him into the ground. Landing hard he still rolled out of the way as the beast tried to pounce on him. This close he tried to look the other Knight in the deranged, armored eyes. Trying to see who was the one wielding this armor. He was able to, and that revelation shook him to the core. “Morgan?” The beast screamed again and tried to bite his head off. The Knight did everything he could to dodge the beast's attempt to get at him. In the background Reks' laugh grew a little more maniacal the longer this kept going.
Finally he heard from Xypher, for whom he was trying to buy some time, “I got it! On the top of his head. There's a seal spell attached to the top of his head. That's how he's controlling him.” He looked up to catch a glimpse of the red paper on top of his head.
“Hang on Morgan,” Carter grunted. The longer his friend was trapped in this state the more the soul metal that protected them was eating him away. Jumping out of the way of a few mire strikes of those claw like hand Carter started to run and like he thought Morgan was hot on his heels. Feeling him about to pounce again Carter cut to the left and jumped up. Kicking off a nearby tree he flipped in the air and landed on his shoulder. Ducking another angry lash of his tail he held on as best he could as Morgan started to thrash around. Despite his training touching the soul metal would his bare flesh would affect him as well so he kept that to a minimum. Just long enough to get a good look at the red piece of paper attached to Morgan's head and lunge fore it. Reks realized what was happening after Carter got a hold of the paper and ripped it off. Still once last buck from Morgan caught him with a shoulder that knocked him to the ground. “Morgan!,” he called out as the still simmering beast turned around. “Morgan listen to me. You still have your humanity locked in there. I'll help you deactivate your armor. But you need to try and quell the anger you're feeling right now.”
Morgan's head whipped around, he was confused but still ready to fight. Then he focused on Reks who stood stock still. In the angry haze in his mind something seemed to have clicked as his eyes was locked on the Priest and nothing else as a low growl came from him. It soon turned to a scream as Morgan charged at him causing to Reks snap out of whatever he was in and run for his life. “Morgan no!.” Looking around Carter located his staff and ran for, scooping it up on the go then tried to catch up with Morgan and Reks, before his friend ripped the Makai Priests to shreds. Fortunately Reks stopped running in a straight line, instead he started zig zagging. Morgan was just a step behind him but with each lunge he was getting closer despite the tactic. But then Morgan launched himself and Reks cut quickly to the right. Morgan crashed and tumbled, shaking his head a bit as he righted himself and relocated his target. Carter ran past the fleeing Priest and right at the charging Beast before him. Once again he jumped off one of the massive arms, Twisted in the air and landed on top of his shoulder. Knowing he didn't have time to get his balance Carter got the staff under Morgan's chin, gripping both ends of it he pulled back with everything he had.
The Beast bucked with the sudden pressure but Carter held firm. “Calm down Morgan,” he grunted through his teeth as his friend fought him. He only let go when he felt the beast start to fall to the side. Carter jumped off as Morgan tumbled on the ground and focused his attention on him now. Carter didn't back away or run, he had to get his friend out of that armor. “Morgan listen to me!” The Beast swiped at him with a speed he wasn't expecting knocking him tot the ground. Dazed he still tried to get back up. Then he felt a giant claw like hind wrap around him his waist and squeezed as he picked him up. Struggling to breath as Morgan brought him closer to his face Carter separated the staff and drove both points between the armor plating on the giant hand. His head reared back as he howled from the pain and the pressure stopped. Carter, hanging on to both swords as the Beast thrashed around finally freed himself. Removing both sword he connected them into the double bladed staff before jumping off with a back flip. Before he land he spun the staff, as soon as he hit the ground the Rook armor covered him and he ran toward the Beast.
Now almost on equal footing he engaged his friend. But he had started with a small disadvantage. Summoning the armor earlier against the pack of Horrors had used up a bit of that mystical timer. It hadn't reset yet so had to accomplish this in less time than he would have normally have. His eyes locked onto on the Beast's underside. Something that wasn't there when the armor had it's normal appearance when Morgan summonsed it.“Xypher that jewel on his waist.”
“That's the weak spot,' the pin confirmed. Now with a target in sight Rook came at his friend more aggressively than he had before. Morgan sensing the new challenge responded in kind as he tried to get a hold of or claw and rip him to pieces. Getting knocked to the ground Rook used the momentum of the blow to to roll back to his feet and went at his friend once more. “Carter you're running out of time!”, Xypher told him, but he was already aware of it. Getting close he swung his blade up, catching Morgan under the chin. With his head up Rook was able to get underneath him. Morgan sensing his prey was right where wanted him rose up enough to Bring his hands down for a crushing blow. Not fully realizing that move gave his prey the opening he needed. With a yell he jammed one of the point of the double blade into the jewel. With more force and the weight of the Beast coming down he was able to get in in further. There was a breaking sound as the jewel cracked.
The Rook armor flew off of Carter as he removed the point from what was left of the jewel. The beast seemed to shrink a bit as a giant portal appeared above him as segments quickly removed themselves and flew up into it revealing Morgan. He collapsed on the ground before Carter could catch him. Turning him over he was stunned by how pale he was now, and how cold to the touch, breath frighteningly shallow. “Morgan?,” he shook him. :Morgan.” His eyes open, almost appearing lost before they seemed to focus on him. He tried to speak. “Save your strength,” Carter told him. “Just hang on.” He needed help for his friend but in trying to to panic he was also currently lost at the moment on how to summon it.
Still Morgan struggled to get out, “Lyn..., Lyn...” Then his head dropped and hung in a way that didn't seem right.
“Morgan?”, part of Carter's mind was refusing to believe what he was seeing. “Morgan,” he shook him again. “Morgan!”
“He said he had him for a day,” Xypher told him when the reality of the situation finally set in. “He was locked in there too long. I'm sorry Carter.”
Sadness wanted to over take him but he held it at bay. Instead he concentrated on what Morgan was trying to say. “Lyn? Lyn. Lyn.” His features slackened as it occurred to him, “Lyndsy. No.” Leaving the body he ran with all he had left. “Where's the closest opening to the temple?!”
“A half a mile to your left.” He immediately changed directions as Xypher went, “You don't think Reks...” Xypher couldn't finish the thought. Getting close Carter slowed down long enough for Xypher to open it to reveal the Makai Path that lead to the Temple of Rook. Going full speed the other side opened as he raced out of there. Not breaking stride as he took a hard left at the intersection that led to Morgan and Lyndsy's home. He came close to the spot where he met their youngest and stopped. Their home wasn't that far off he should have seen some sort of light from here. Continuing on he found it and came to a dead stop, the area looked like it had been attacked, scorched marks everywhere and broken windows and pieces of equipment.
Carter looked around until he found a form lying on the ground. “Lyndsy!” he called out ran over, but stopped short. She was already dead. But what about the...? “Nathaniel!”, Carter called out as he continued searching the property. “Leonard! It's me Carter! You can come out!” Going behind the house he stopped as he knees nearly gave out on him.
“Oh no,” Xypher muttered. Carter walked up to the two prone forms, the larger one looking like he was trying to shield the little one. He checked both for any signs of life and lowered his head.
Picking it back up angry eyes looked down the path he just came from. “Reks,” he growled as he stood. Without another look he marched, a fierce determination in his step, back down the path that would lead back to the city.
ED – Shaman's Harvest – Broken Dreams
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